Emie & Iza

The origin of “Jiwa”

“Jiwa” means “soul” in Indonesian, and after a lot of thoughtful consideration as well as various ideas, we felt this name truly captures what we’re all about. We wanted a name with deep meaning that reflects our vision and dreams, and finding it in Indonesian made it even more special. Indonesia has always been significant to the both of us. For Iza, who lived there for eight months, it was a place where she solidified her love for travel, the natural world, and the incredible people these places hold. Emie, who has always felt drawn to Indo, was mesmerized by its ocean life, the warmth of its people, and the rich experiences it offered. Through Jiwa Journeys, we hope to share the wonders of the world, inspire people to embrace new experiences, fall in love with the unexpected, and connect more deeply with both nature and their own souls on every journey.

Jiwa came to life from our shared dream of freedom and wanting to create something truly meaningful.

We never want our careers to box us in or define who we are. We crave the freedom to dive into our different interests, creative ideas, and wildest dreams.

We first met while working and living on a research vessel on the Great Barrier Reef, and it didn’t take long for us to realize we had nearly identical visions for life. One day, while chatting in the wheelhouse during a watch, we discovered something amazing.

Iza talked about her dream of leading trips around the world to inspire people to travel consciously, make a difference, and do something truly unique. Emie, completely blown away, realized that Iza’s dream was almost word for word a journal entry she had written a year prior. Both of us were a mix of surprised and excited, and we started bouncing ideas off each other, leading to the planning of Jiwa’s very first adventure.

We’re eager to share our passion with others and show people that there is so much beauty in this world worth protecting.